Thanks to Andrea Brussa, the art of dance costume design and construction at The Banff Centre will reach new levels. The recently created Andrea Brussa Master Artist Endowment Fund will entice internationally respected master artists in dance wardrobe design to Banff. This summer, world-renowned costumer designer Jean Lamprell visited the Centre as the first master artist to be funded by the award.
Made possible by a recent donation by Banff native Andrea Brussa, the new fund will be awarded annually to an esteemed artist who will join a team of industry professionals responsible for facilitating the Theatre Production, Design, and Stage Management programs at the Centre. The master artist will specifically facilitate the Wardrobe Technician program, inspiring the further development of established dance wardrobe professionals through training, master-classes, mentorship, and one-on-one coaching.
“The Banff Centre is fortunate and honoured to acquire the support of Andrea Brussa, a knowledgeable practitioner as well as a passionate admirer of innovative wardrobe design,” says John Murrell, executive artistic director for Performing Arts at The Banff Centre.
Raised in Banff, Andrea Brussa is a long-time enthusiast of The Banff Centre and attends performances on a regular basis. A milliner and costume designer herself, Brussa has a keen interest in theatre and specifically costume design and production. Brussa would like to see The Banff Centre become a focal point for costume design both nationally and internationally and, in the future, would also like to see her fund help to establish a historical fashion and costume library.
“I believe it is essential to preserve the history, skills, knowledge, and work of previous wardrobe artists as well as encourage, inspire, teach, and stimulate new works,” says Brussa. “I think The Banff Centre is ideally situated to provide the practical foundation and unlimited inspiration for the art of costume and I am proud to contribute to it.”
The first artist to be awarded the fund, San Francisco-based Jean Lamprell is sought after by great ballerinas and ballet companies from all over the world for her ballet costume design. Her work has been featured by The Royal Ballet Covent Garden, London Festival Ballet, Glyndebourne Opera, Tokyo Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Houston Ballet, as well as on television and in films. As part of the Centre’s Theatre Production, Design, and Stage Management program, Lamprell worked with participants and staff in the exclusive art of cutting and constructing the net tutu. Her unique scientific development of tutu construction for classical ballet is based on historical knowledge and techniques combined with modern day requirements for fit and design.
The Theatre Production, Design, and Stage Management program supports concurrent Playbill and program-related performances in opera, dance, Aboriginal arts, and drama. The program encourages the development of highly trained theatre production practitioners. Participants intern with experienced industry professionals, all of whom are involved in the production process — from the initial concept through to the final production.
